Oil-well agitator



Feb, 5, 19240 1,482,845

' T. H. GALLAGHER v OIL WELL AGITATOR Filed Sept. 29 1922 ATTO RN EY WITNESS:

Patented Feb. 5, 1924. I

- STATES 'rHoMAs n.

PATENT orrlcs.

OIL-WELL AGITATOR.

Application filed September 29, 1922. Serial No. 591,360.

May 23, 1893, and one of the main objects of the invention is to produce a tool which can be removed from the hole in ,the event that the agitator becomes coveredor smothered in the'cavity formed adjacent to the lower end of the hole or well. A further object is to provide means permanently associated with the tool for loosening it in the event of the lower portion of the tool becoming covered or smothered in the cav- 5 ity, this means being of a predetermined weight and, as previously stated, permanently attached to the tool so as to el1mi nate possibility of the use of a device of such weight as to damage or break the agi- 0 tating elements. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the agitator partly in section, showing the agitating members extended.

Figure 2 isan elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

The tool includes a lower jar A including a lower link 1 within which is slidably mounted an upper link 2, the upper end of link 1 being closed by a block '3 and link 2 being provided at its upper end with a neck 4. The linksl and 2 are disposed at right angles to each other and form a jar which is operated in a known manner forreciprocating agitator arms in a manner to be described.

Two agitating arms 5 of arcuate crosssection are pivotallysecured in the upper end of link 2 bymeans of a pin 6 which passes through eyes 7 at the inner ends of arms 5. These arms are shaped to fit between the sides of link 2, when folded, forming with the link a cylinder (Fig. 4). The arms 5 are disposed, when in normal or closed position, in the planes of the sides l" of link 1, and the upper end of this link is rounded at 1 to form an element with which the arms contact, when link 2 is lowered so as to throw these arms outwardly nto substantially the positions illustrated 1n Figure 1. The tool is lowered into the well with the jar A and the arms 5 posi tioned in the cavity which is formed by blasting the sand in a known manner, downward movement of link 1 being limited by a heavy shaft or rod 8 which is secured in any suitable or preferred manner to the lower end of link 1. I

An upper jar B is connected to the upper end of neck 4 of link .2. This upper jar includes a lower link 9 in which operates an upper link 10, these two links being disposed at right angles and forming, in crosssection, a cylinder as illustrated in Figure 3. A rope socket 11 is secured, in any suitable or preferred manner, on the upper end of link 10 and receives a rope or cable 12 by. means of which link 10 is reciprocated vertically so as to impart reciprocating movement to link 9, link 10 being in contact with the upper end of link 9 when in normal operating position. At its lower end link 94is provided with a neck 9 which is permanently secured to neck 4 of link 2 in any suitable manner, as by being welded at 9". Vhen the tool has been lowered to the proper depth, link 2 is reciprocated ver' 'tically in link 1 through the medium of cable 12 and jar B in a known manner thus causing the arms 5 to be alternately closed and opened so as to violently agitate the sand, gravel, etc., within the cavity C, causing thismaterial to collect in the lower portion or pocket P of the well from which it is removed in a known manner. This operation so far described is similar to the operation of the tool disclosed in my patent above identified.

In using a tool of this character it is important that sufficient weight be applied to link 2 to insure proper outward movement of the arms 5 with sufficient force to thoroughly agitate the material in the cavity but this weight must notbe too' great or the arms 5 will be bent or broken thus ren- GALLAGHER, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO TWIN PACTKEB OIL AND GAS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

dering the tool inoperative. I have had considerable trouble in the use of this tool When operated by inexperienced persons due to the tendency to place too much weight above link 2, this resulting in breaking and bending of the arms 5. In addition, it also sometimes occurs that the lower jar A becomes completely covered or smothered by the material in the lower portion of the cavity so that it is very difiicult, and sometimes impossible, to loosen the tool sufficiently to withdraw it from the hole. I avoid this difiiculty by providing the upper jar B by means of which the tool can be subjected to, in effect, blows which are struck up\\"ardly by link 10 against the upa per end of link 9 so as to effectively jar and loosen the tool.

This result cannot be obtained in the tool illustrated in my patent referred to in which the upper jar is not employed. In addition, as above pointed out,

link 9 of this upper jar provides a member of a predetermined weight which is permanently associated with link 2 of the lower jar and which serves to apply the proper pressure to arms 5 for forcing these arms outwardly while also efi'ectually preventing excessive weight being applied to these arms resulting in bending or breaking of the same.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a tool of the character described, a lower jar, agitating members carried by said jar and disposed to be forced outwardly away from the jar during downward movement of the same, and an upper jar permanently secured to said lower ar.

2. In a tool of the character described, a lower jar including slidably connected upper and lower links, agitator arms carried by the upper link and pivotally connected thereto for outward movement away from the jar, the lower link and the arms being so related as to cause outward movement of the arms upon downward movement of the upper link. and an upper jar including a lower link permanently secured to the upper end of the upper link of said lower jar and an upper link disposed at right angles to said lower link and slidable therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

'IHOMAS H. GALLAGHER. 

